Why Mary J. Blige Sang to Hillary Clinton In Her Interview

When Apple Music shared a preview of R&B queen Mary J. Blige's new talk show two days ago, the clip was met with surprise and confusion. Blige sits across from Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton as she serenades her a verse from Bruce Springsteen's "American Skin (41 Shots)," an act that appeared moving to some, and awkward to others. But why did she do it?

"The lyrics resonated with me so deeply and so heavily because of all the shootings and the police brutality," she told Entertainment Weekly. Even though Springsteen's song came out in 2001, the singer hadn't heard it until this summer when Apple Music exec Jimmy Iovine played it for her, and it felt more relevant than ever. So she wanted to include it, in some way, in her new show; and Hillary Clinton proved the perfect audience.

The Clinton is Blige's first guest for the new series, returning the favor for when the singer performed at the Democratic National Convention. Blige said of her interviewee, "Who she truly is inspired this interview. When I met her, she was genuinely concerned about how I was doing. Like, she hugged me like a grandma!"

"I needed Ms. Clinton to be impacted the same way [I was]," she told EW. "The only way I can get that reaction from her is to sing it." And so she did. What we see in the clip is Blige closing her eyes, holding Clinton's hand and singing, "If an officer stops you, promise me you'll always be polite / And that you'll never ever run away / Promise Mama you'll keep your hands in sight"—very relevant words in today's political climate.

Sadly, that's the only part of the show done in song, but Blige does grill the Democratic nominee on racial tensions in the U.S., religion and the glass ceiling. The first episode of The 411 with Mary J. Blige goes live tomorrow, Sept. 30 on Apple Music.

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